The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-31
HOW JOCKEYS TRAIN.
Getting Rid of Nine Pounds of Flesh
in Single Day.


NEW YORK, Oct 15-When Jockey Nc
Laughlin jumped from his horse the other
day at Jerome Park, after one of his hard
finishes, it was noticed that he was very
weak He had sweated off nearly five
pounds of flesh that morning to get the
mount. and i'll getting down his weight he
reduced his strength proportionately. Nc
Laughlins riding weight this summer has
been around ITO. which is about as far from
his normal weight of 1876 as he dare go. now
that he is getting up in years. 1t has been
only by the stricteSt sort of dieting and fire.
quent Turkish baths that he has been able
to keep himself to that figure, and two or
three pounds have had ~ come off every
week This he does by wrapping himself in
hannels, and taking ten-mile spin out into
the country.
Mclaughlin is not going TO ride this win
ter, but will get strength for next summers
work by going back to his natural weight
of 1875 or 40 pounds In this respect CARR
son, who is going to ride all winter in Cali
fornia for the Haggin stables, has an
advantage over his rivals as the Snapper
is several years younger and weighs ten or
twelve pounds less. Garrison rides easily Mt
ITO, ard has no difficulty in keeping off the
surplus flesh by looking after his diet and
taking hot baths.
Getting rid of the surplus flesh that keeps
for jockey, especially il he has been in the
saddle several years, like Fitzpatrick, who is
the heavyweight among the riders in the
East 1t is not only difficult, but extremely
dangerous and it is the more so when il is
done over night to get down to the minimum
weight for "a next day mount. Two or three
years ago Mclaughlin reduced his flesh nine
pounds in one day in order TO ride FOrdham
in his great match race. That was when he
was young, though, and willing to make
any sacrifice to win such an event He
could not stand such physical exhaustion
to-day.
Bobby Swim who was the greatest Jockey
on the American turf ten or a dozen years
ago, reduced his weight eleven pounds in
one night when he was riding on the Mobile,
! Ala, course. Swim was riding for Prince
McGrath, who was known as the Irish
Prince from the fact that he always APP
peared ut the Lexington track on opening
day in a suit of green broadcloth. Swim
became dissipated, and when the great race
between Maj Thomas Himyar and Camne
+. was run, Swim was refused the mount on
Himyar. He thereupon went to tine owners
Of Cammie Il. and offered TO ride that horse
for nothing if he lost and $500 if he won. This
WIS the day before the race, and the jockey
would have to reduce his weight eleven
pounds TO ride Camme f., but nothing
daunted the Jock" set about the work, his
offer being gladly accepted. That night
Swim was rolled in three heavy blankets,
after having taken previously Il Turkish
bath. Then he was laid out for the greater
part of the night before blazing wood fire,
and sweated until the blankets had to be
changed. In the morning he was given an
other Turkish bath When he entered the
paddock he was so weak he had to be sup
ported to the saddle. He won on Cammie
f., finishing a length before Himyar, who
had been a heavy favorite. That was
dogs shortly after through drink.